Geno Smith is talking like a guy who already knows the timeline.
The veteran quarterback, who arrived in New York this offseason after the Raiders cut him loose, had high praise for Jets rookie Cade Klubnik when asked about the former Clemson star this week. “He can spin the heck out of the ball,” Smith said. “I feel like he’s the guy who’s always prepared. He’s been preparing as if he’s going to be the starter. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Reading between the lines is not hard here.
Smith is 35 years old and on what is essentially a bridge contract. Klubnik is 22 and the Jets used a high pick on him in the 2026 draft for a reason. The plan in New York has always been clear, even if the front office has not said it out loud. Geno starts. Klubnik watches and learns. Eventually, the keys get handed over.
That Smith is publicly endorsing his replacement is interesting. Plenty of veteran quarterbacks would rather chew glass than say nice things about the rookie sitting behind them. Smith has always been different. He waited years for his shot in Seattle. He knows what it feels like to be the guy who has been preparing while everyone else got the opportunity.
Klubnik is coming off a successful career at Clemson where he became one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country. He has the arm to make every NFL throw and the mobility to extend plays. His draft stock rose throughout the pre-draft process, and the Jets pulled the trigger when he was still on the board.
The big question now is how long this gets to be Geno’s team.
The Jets are coming off a 3-14 disaster of a 2025 season. There is no immediate playoff pressure. If Smith starts slow, the calls for Klubnik will get loud very quickly. New York fans have been waiting for a real franchise quarterback for what feels like forever. They are not going to be patient if the rookie starts looking like the answer.
That said, Smith has earned the benefit of the doubt before. He led the Seahawks to relevance after years of being a backup. He had a strong stretch in Las Vegas before everything fell apart. He is not a quarterback you should bet against, even if the long-term plan does not include him.
The Jets offense around Smith has some real questions. Garrett Wilson is on a mission to get back to the form that made him an All-Pro candidate. The offensive line has been rebuilt. The receiving corps is younger and less proven than it was a few seasons ago. Smith is going to need everything to break right to keep the kid on the bench all season.
For Klubnik, this is the ideal setup. A veteran in front of him who is actively pulling for him. A coaching staff that drafted him to be the future. A fan base that will love him the moment he gets a shot. The Jets have not always done quarterback development well, but they appear to be giving it a real try this time.
The 2026 NFL season will tell us whether Geno is still capable of being a top-20 starter. Whatever the answer is, Klubnik is the next chapter. Smith just confirmed as much.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
